Now that Pakistan has postponed, due to some procedural delays, the signing of a new liberalised visa regime with India, another phase of wait and see has begun. Underlying the delay is the insistence of Interior Minister Rehman Malik to sign the agreement at the political leadership level, for which he had invited Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram to Pakistan. The agreement evolved in the interior secretaries meeting in Bhurban marks a new beginning. The focus is on developing trade and economic cooperation related activities that require lowering of barriers on issues such as visa regulations. Calling the scourge of terrorism a common enemy, India and Pakistan have agreed to counter the threat jointly. The decision of Pakistan to allow an Indian Judicial Commission to visit Pakistan to interrogate the Mumbai attack suspects is appreciable, especially when Pakistan’s Judicial Commission had toured India for the same purpose in March this year. India’s desire to share information with Pakistan about the Samjhota train bombing, along with the assurance to scotch any Indian involvement, if found, in destabilising Balochistan is commendable. For now the critical concern is that the agreement should be signed as soon as possible. Going by past trends, every important decision between India and Pakistan is subject to a ‘one step forward, two steps back’ process. Terrorism has been instrumental in raising suspicions between the two. Given the importance of bilateral trade, more so when Pakistan’s economy is passing through its worst phase, regional cooperation, especially with India, promises many benefits and opportunities. The issue of visa liberalisation has emotional appeal. Issuing tourist visas easily and visas on arrival to senior citizens and children, besides doing away with police reporting will facilitate people to people contact. The release of prisoners and fishermen, including those suffering from ailments, would prevent many from rotting away in each other’s jails. Even those inmates whose nationalities could not be ascertained will be freed to live in charitable institutions in both countries until their identities are confirmed. Though trade is important, a humane approach to the relationship could strengthen its sustainability. It is time to move ahead and break the cycle of retreating from the brink whenever a silver lining is visible. *